So, I have a confession to make. I’m one of those weirdos who likes to listen to Christmas music regardless the time of year, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. But let me qualify that. I want to be clear that when I refer to ‘Christmas music,’ I exclusively mean Christmas worship music, and not the wintry “Let It Snow,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” ear pollution that we’re all forced to choke down from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
Now, this doesn’t mean I’m a full-on Christmas nut who goes crazy with lights, decorations, and ornaments— no, no. In fact, I find all that to be a chore, wrapped in a hassle, wrapped in a headache. My fondness for Christmas music exists on its own outside of hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. It lies in the purity and focus of Christ-centered worship. The kind of worship that inspires us to love everyone, help each other, avoid contention, and foster peace. For me, these songs strike at the core of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
I’m a human being however, and like most humans I too can grow tired of listening to the same thing over and over— no matter how inspirational. This means I’m constantly on the hunt for fresh and emotionally moving adaptations of these timeless tunes. While some of the versions I’ve discovered could possibly be seen as unconventional by the common church-going Molly or Peter, each are compelling and powerful in their own right.
And so, I would like to share some of these gems to help enrich your worship of Christ not only during the months that end in -ember, but all year long.
1. O Holy Night (Another Hallelujah) by Lincoln Brewster
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
This is hands-down my all-time favorite Christmas song, and quoted above, my all-time favorite set of lines of Christmas music.
Truly he taught us to love one another. Why is it that this pure and simple message is so often watered down in our chapels and Sunday classrooms? Why does loving one another have to constantly stripped down and repackaged to become almost something else entirely— something that is almost always tagged by caveats and conditions. As Latter-day Saints, we can do better. As citizens of the world, we can do better.
2. “Do You Hear What I Hear” by Anthem Lights
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
This is such a poignant message that is needed more today than it ever has been. With the current state of our world where there is such turmoil and divisiveness, peace is tremendously lacking.
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
This line is a continual reminder that this Child came to this Earth not to bring me shame, guilt, inadequacy, or self-doubt— but goodness and light.
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Act of Congress
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
Love and brotherhood. I yearn for these things. And unfortunately, as Mormons, I think we only pay lip service to them, especially within our Elders Quorums. Embracing each other in love and brotherhood is so much more than playing basketball and shooting guns.
4. Angels (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard on High) by Jason Castro
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
This is such a beautiful promise of redemption. To know that Christ will not cast us off for making mistakes, no matter their weight, but his mission is to raise us from our mortal states— to inspire us to continually become better.